Escrow cup for coin-operated vending machine and the like



Sept. 21, 1965 J. A. LOTSPEICH 3,207,428

ESCROW CUP FOR COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINE AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 15, 1962 INVENTOR,

, JOSEPH A.LOT$PEICH.

\ 4 BY (o-2 4 PM \m ATTORNEYS.

3,207,428 ESSROW CUP FGR CtHN-OPERATED VENDING MACE-NE AND THE LIKE Joseph A. Lotspeich, Florissant, Mo., assignor to Coin Acceptor-s, Inc, St. Louis, Mo, a corporation of Missouri Filed Aug. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 217,210 8 Claims. (Cl. 232-575) This invention relates generally to an escrow cup for receiving coins deposited in an associated coin-operated vending mechanism for selectively actuating the cup to deliver any coins to a predetermined coin-receiving means.

In a coin-operated vending machine, it is desirable to provide means, generally referred to as an escrow cup, for temporarily holding coins deposited in the machine rather than directing such coins directly to a cash box from which they cannot be returned. This escrow cup is designed to release coins deposited therein to either of two associated coin-receiving means depending upon whether such coins are to be retained in the machine or returned to the customer.

The escrow cup is responsive to delivery of merchandisc to release the coins to a cash box and is also responsive to actuation of a coin-return button, if merchandise has not been delivered, so as to release such coins to a coin-return chute or the like.

An important object is to provide an escrow cup that is reliable in its operation, and which will upon actuation permit coins deposited therein to be released quickly without jostling them about or imparting any undesirable motion thereto.

Another important objective is to provide an escrow cup that is not susceptible to jamming because of the lodging of a coin within the cup in a crevice or the like.

A further important objective is to provide a cup having a pair of. pivotally mounted gates or doors which are adapted to be positively locked when in their closed positions so as to prevent release of Coins deposited therein except upon actuation of gate-opening means associated therewith.

Still another important objective is realized by the provision of a housing forming a coin container, the housing having a pivotaily mounted gate that constitutes a wall of such container, and by the provision of pivotally mounted levers that cooperate to retain the gate selectively in a closed position and to release and open the gate.

An important objective is realized by the provision of resilient means connected to the levers of the opeuating mechanism, the resilient means tending to urge the levers in a direction to close and lock the gate.

Another important object is afforded by the structural arrangement of the first and second levers so that the second lever, upon rotation, cams the first lever to release the gate and subsequently pivots the gate toward an open position upon continued rotation. This advantageous functional result is obtained because the second lever includes a lost-motion connection with the gate.

Yet another important objective is realized by providing a pair of side gates between and pivotally suspended on a pair of spaced, parallel walls, the gates being movable to a closed position to form a V-shaped structure that operates with the walls to provide a coin container. The operating mechanism includes a pair of pivotally mounted levers cooperating with each gate to hold the gate selectively in a closed position and to release its associated gate for pivoting the gate toward an open position.

Another important objective is achieved by the provision of internal shoulders on the rear and front walls forming the coin container, the shoulders overlapping the side margins of the gates and engaging the gates in the closed position to hold any coins in the container away 3,207,428 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 from any crevice provided by the gate side margins and associated adjacent walls in order to preclude jamming or other obstructive action.

An important objective is to provide an escrow cup that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture and assemble, highly efiicient in operation, and which is fully automatic.

The foregoing and numerous objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the escrow cup;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view as seen from the right of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view, partially cut-away to more clearly illustrate the coin-receiving means;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view as seen along line 44 of FIG. 1, illustrating the operating mechanism in a position so that one of the gates is opened, and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view as seen along line 55 of FIG. 1.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, it will be seen that in the embodiment illustrated the escrow cup comprises left and right hand portions which are symmetrical. For this reason, corresponding elements in the two symmetrical portions will be identified by corresponding numcrals, but the numerals used to identify elements on the right hand side in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be primed.

A housing is provided which includes a rear wall and a spaced, parallel front wall 11. A plurality of elongate cylindrical spacers 12, three in the embodiment disclosed, are disposed endwise between and bridge the rear and front walls It and 11.

Disposed between the walls 10 and 11 are a pair of gates 13 and 13. These gates 13 and 13' are pivotally mounted on hinge pins 14 and 14' that are attached to and extend between the rear and front walls 10 and 11. Under normal operating conditions, as will be subsequently described, the gates 13 and 13' constitute side Walls for the housing and are movable to a closed position to form a V-shaped structure that cooperates with the rear and front walls 10 and 11 to provide a coin container.

Referring to the left hand portions of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the gate 13 carries a rod 15 spaced from the associated hinge pin 14. The outermost end of rod 15 extends through a short arcuate slot 16 formed in front wall 11. The rod 15 constitutes a locking element for the gates 13 and 13. As the gate 13 swings about its hinge pin 14, the locking rod 15 will move along the arcuate slot 16. As will appear, the rod 15 cooperates with other operative parts so as to constittue a locking element for the gate 13.

Provided on each of the rear and front walls 10 and 11 are a plurality of internal shoulders 17 that overlap the side margins of the gate 13. These shoulders 17 engage the gate 13 in its closed position. The shoulders 17 taper downwardly from each wall toward the opposite wall and are relatively spaced so as to preclude any coin from wedging or otherwise obstructing the crevice or clearance 18 between the gate side margins 19 and the closely adjacent walls 10 and 11.

The right hand portion of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 has the same structure which is indicated by the identical reference numerals that are primed.

Coin-receiving means are illustrated generally at 20 in FIG. 3. This means may simply comprise a divider or guide having two separate coin chutes 21 and 21' disposed beneath respective sides of the escrow cup, one chute 21 leading to a cash box within the associated vending machine and the other chute 21 to a coin return.

3 Again referring to the left hand portion (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), a first lever 23 is pivotally mounted by pin 22 to the front wall 11. On one side of the pivot pin 22 of the first lever 23, there is provided a hook 24 adapted to engage and receive the extended end portion of gate rod constituting the lock element. Along one side of the first lever 23 is a camming surface 25 leading to the hook 24. The purpose and functional advantages of the camming surface 25 will become apparent upon further detailed description of parts.

On the opposite side of pivot pin 22, the first lever 23 is provided with a tab 26.

Again, the right hand portion is identical in structure, the corresponding parts being indicated by the same reference numerals, but primed.

A coil tension spring 27 constituting a resilient means extends between and has its opposite ends attached to the tabs 26 and 26. It will be understood that the spring 27 tends to urge each of the first levers 23 and 23' in a direction about their respective pivot pins 22 and 22' so that the books 24 and24' engage and retain the gate rods 15 and 15' when the gates 13 and 13' are disposed in the closed position as is illustrated best in FIG. 3. The first levers 23 and 23 serve to hold the gates 13 and 13' in the closed position until such gates are selectively released and serve to reengage and retain the gates subsequently when the gates are .returned to their closed position.

Again, referring to the left hand portion of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a second lever 31 is pivotally mounted to the front wall 11 on pivot pin 30. The second lever 31 is provided with a recess or opening 32 adapted to receive the lock end portion of gate rod 15. defined by a margin 29 that engages the lock element or gate rod 15 upon rotation of the second lever 31 in either direction. It will be noted that connection between the gate rod 15 is loose in the lever opening 32 so as to provide a relative lost-motion therebetween upon initial rotation of the second lever 31. Cam 33 is carried by the second lever 31 and is adapted to engage and follow the camming surface 25 formed on the first lever 23.

Upon initial rotation of the second lever 31 in one direction the cam 33 will move along the camming surface 25 and hence urge the associated first lever 23 in a direction to release the gate rod 15 from lever hook 24. This action is accomplished by the lost-motion of the gate rod 15 in the lever opening 32. After the gate rod 15 is released, the second lever 31 upon continued rotation then moves the gate 13 toward an open position upon engagement of the margin 29 defining the recess 32 with the gate rod 15. v

The right hand portion of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 has the same structure and the corresponding parts have the same reference numerals, but primed.

Each of the second levers 31' and 31' is provided with a pair of tabs 34 and 34' respectively. A coil tension spring 35 constituting a resilient means operatively interconnects the lever tabs 34 and 34, and tends to urge the second levers 31 and 31 about the pivot pins 30 and 30' toward the closed position.

As will best appear in FIG. 2, the front wall 11 is provided with an overhanging, horizontal ledge 36. A pair of solenoids 37 and 37' are attached to the underside of ledge 36. The solenoid 37 includes an armature 40 that is operatively connected to the second lever 31 by a projecting finger 41. Similarly, the solenoid 37 includes an armature 40' that is connected to the second lever 31' by finger 41'.

A switch 42 is attached to the front wall 11, the switch 42 including an actuating arm 43 engageable with a projection 44 on the second lever arm 31. The switch 42 is conditioned upon pivotal movement of second lever arm 31' and is operable through suitable circuits to a vending mechanism to preclude operation of the vending mechanism while the gate 13' is open, and thereby pre- The recess 32 is.

clude actuation of solenoid 37 and hence preclude pivotal movement of second lever arm 31.

It will be assumed that the appropriate coins have been placed into the vending machine and have been introduced into the'container formed by the rear wall 10, front wall 11 and V-shaped structure or side wallsprovided by the gates 13 and 13 when disposed in the closed position. The gates 13 and 13' are locked in the closed position by the connection of the gate rods 15 and 15' in the hooks 24-and 24' of first levers 23 and 23'. The spring 27 tends to urge the first levers 23 and 23 in a direction to hold the gate rods in such hooks. The spring 35 tends to rotate the second levers 31 and 31' in a direction to hold the gates 13 and 13' in the closed position and to permit hooks.

First it will be assumed that with coins in the container the solenoid 37' is actuated to move the armature 40' inwardly, and thereby rotate the second lever 31' in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 4. As the second lever 31' rotates against the loading of spring 35, the cam 33' rides over the camming surface 25' of the first lever 23', and thereby rotates the first lever 23' in a counterclockwise direction to release the gate rod 15 from the lever hook 24'.

As stated previously, the initial movement of the recess margin 29' of the second lever 31 causes a release of the gate rod 15' from the first lever 23" before the second lever 31' allows or causes the gate 13' to be moved from the closed to the open position. This action is rendered by the lost-motion connection of the gate rod 15 in the lever opening 32. 7

After release of the gate rod 15', the gate will fall open under gravity and/or will be urged downwardly by engagement of the second lever 31 with the gate rod 15' in order to move the gate 13 from its closed position as shown in FIG. 3 to its open position, as shown in FIG. 4. When the gate 13is opened, the coins fall from the container into the coin return chute 21':

It will be noted that as the second lever 31' rotates upon actuation of solenoid 37', the lever projection 44 rotates the switch 42" that is operatively connected by suitable circuits to the vending mechanism to prevent the vending mechanism from functioning to vend mechandise, and to prevent energization of solenoid 37. With this arrangement it is not possible for anyone to hold the gate 13' open by a wire, insert coins which would be returned and yet obtain merchandise by vending action.

After thecoins have been returned, solenoid 37' will be automatically deenergized. Upon deenergization, the spring 35 tends to rotate the secondlever 31' counterclockwise from the open position shown in FIG. 4, to the closed position shown in FIG. 3. As the second lever 31' is rotated, the second lever 31' raises the gate 13 from its open position to its closed position by the interconnection of recess margin 29 with thegate rod 15'. When the gate 13' is located in its closed position, the gate rod 15' will snap into the hook-24 of the first lever 23' under the loading of spring 2'Z'that tends to urge the first lever 23' in a clockwise direction. The mechanism is now conditioned for subsequent use. I

It will now be assumed that an appropriate number of coins are deposited in the container, and that the. vending mechanism is consequently actuated and that the solenoid 37 is energized, the solenoid 37 pulling its armature 40 inwardly to rotate the second lever 31 in a counterclockwise direction to effect release of the gate rod 15 from the first lever hook 24 upon initial movement and to move the gatev 13 from its closed position to its open position upon continued rotation, in the manner previously described. When gate 13 is opened, the coins fall from the container into the chute 21, and thence into a cash box.

After the coins have been deposited in the cash box and the merchandise vended, the solenoid 37 is automatically deenergized. Immediately, the action of spring 35 rotates the second lever 31 clockwise to raise the gate 13 from its open position to its closed position through its connection with the gate 15. When the gate 13 is located in its closed position, the gate rod 15 will automatically snap into the first lever hook 24, the compressive action of spring 27 tending to rotate the first lever 23 counterclockwise to obtain this result.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an escrow cup for coin-operated vending machines and the like:

(a) a housing providing a coin container, said housing containing a pivotally mounted gate that constitutes a wall of said container, the gate including a lock element,

(b) a pivotally mounted first lever selectively engaging said lock element and retaining said gate in a closed position,

(c) a pivotally mounted second lever operatively connected and attached to said lock element and engaging said first lever, said second lever camming said first lever to disengage the lock element and release said gate and subsequently pivoting said gate by the lock element to an open position upon rotation of said second lever in one direction,

(d) means for selectively rotating said second lever, and

(e) the second lever by its connection and attachment to the lock element pivoting the gate to a close position upon rotation of the second lever in the other direction.

2. In an escrow cup for coin-operated vending machines and the like:

(a) a housing providing a container, said housing including a pivotally mounted gate that constitutes a wall of said container, the gate including a lock element,

(b) a pivotally mounted first lever selectively engaging said lock element and retaining said gate in a closed position,

(c) a pivotally mounted second lever having a recess that receives said lock element loosely to provide a relative lost-motion connection yet attachment between the second lever and lock element, the recess being defined by a margin that engages the lock element upon rotation of the second lever in either direction, said second lever upon rotation in one engaging direction engaging and camming said first lever to disengage the lock element and release the gate as permitted by the lost-motion connection, and said second lever subsequently pivoting the gate by engagement of the recess margin with the lock element toward an open position upon continued rotation in the same direction,

((1) means for selectively rotating said second lever,

and

(e) the second lever by engagement of the recess margin with the lock element pivoting the gate to a closed position upon rotation of the second lever in the other direction.

3. In an escrow cup for coin-operated vending machines and the like:

(a) a housing providing a coin container, said housing including a pivotally mounted gate that constitutes a wall of said container, the gate including a lock element spaced from the pivot axis of said gate,

(b) a pivotally mounted first lever including a hook selectively engaging said lock element and retaining said gate in a closed position, said first lever including a camming surface,

(0) a pivotally mounted second lever provided with an opening that receives said lock element loosely to provide a lost-motion connection betwen the second lever and lock element, the opening being defined by a margin that engages the lock element upon rotation in either direction,

(d) said second lever being provided with a cam portion engaging the camrning surface of the first lever to move the first lever pivotally in a direction to disengage the lever hook from the lock element and release the gate as permitted by the lost-motion connection upon rotation of said second lever in one direction, said second lever subsequently pivoting the gate by engagement of the opening margin with the lock element toward an open position upon continued rotation in the same direction,

(e) a spring operatively connected to said second lever tending to urge the second lever in a direction to close the gate by engagement of the opening margin with the lock element, and

(f) a spring operatively connected to said first lever tending to move the first lever in a direction to cause operative engagement of the hook with said lock element and retain the gate in the closed position.

4. In an escrow cup for coin-operated vending machines and the like:

(a) a housing including spaced, parallel rear and front walls,

(b) a pair of side gates disposed between and pivotally suspended on said walls, said gates being movable to a closed position to form a V-shaped structure that cooperates with said walls to provide a coin container,

(0) a coin-receiving means disposed beneath each of said gates,

(d) a pair of pivotally mounted first levers each including a locking connection with one of said gates for selectively retaining said gate in a closed position,

(e) a pair of pivotally mounted second levers each including a lost-motion connection with one of said gates, each said second lever upon rotation camming one of said first levers to release its associated gate as permitted by the lost-motion connection between the second lever and said gate and subsequently engaging and pivoting said associated gate by its lost-motion connection toward an open position upon continued rotation of said second lever,

(f) means for rotating one of said second levers to open its associated gate whereby any coins in the container will be dropped to a predetermined one of said coin-receiving means, and

(g) the second lever engaging and pivoting the gate through its lost-motion connection to a closed position upon rotation of the second lever in the opposite direction.

5. In an escrow cup for coin-operated vending machines and the like:

(a) a housing including spaced, parallel rear and front walls,

(b) a pair of side gates disposed between and pivotally suspended on said walls, said gates being movable to a closed position to form a V-shaped structure that cooperates with said walls to provide a coin container, each gate including a lock element,

(c) a coin-receiving means disposed beneath each of said gates,

(d) a pair of pivotally mounted first levers each selectively engaging one of said lock elements and retaining its associated gate in a closed position,

(e) a pair of pivotally mounted second levers each operatively connected to one of said lock elements and engaging its associated first lever, each said second lever upon rotation camrning one of said first levers to disengage its associated lock element and release its associated gate and subsequently pivoting said associated gate by engagement of the second lever with the associated lock element through their connection to an open position,

(f) means for rotating a selected one of said second levers to open its associated gate whereby any coins in the container will be dropped to a predetermined one of said coin-receiving means, and

(g) means rotating the second lever in the opposite direction so that the second lever through its connection with the lock element engages the lock element to pivot the associated gate to a closed position.

6. The combination and arrangement of elements as recited above in claim 5, in which (h) the last said means is a resilient mean-s extending between and interconnetcing said second levers tending -to urge each said second lever in a direction to close its associated gate, and

(i) resilient means extending between and interconnecting said first levers tending to urge each said first lever into locking engagement with the lock element of its associated gate.

7. In an escrow cup for coin-operated vending machines and the like:

(a) a housing including spaced, parallel rear and front walls,

(b) a pair of side gates disposed between and pivotally suspended on said' walls, said gates being movable to a closed position to form a V-shaped structure that cooperates with said walls to provide a coin container, each said gate including a lock element,

() a coin-receiving means disposed beneath each of said gates,

(d) a pair of pivotally mounted first levers each selectively engaging one of said lock elements and retaining its associated gate in a closed position,

(e) a pair of pivotally mounted second levers each having a recess that receives one of said lock elements loosely to provide a relative lost-motion connection, the recess being defined by margin that engages the loek element, each said second lever upon rotation engaging and camming one of said first levers to disengage its associated lock element and release the associated gate as permitted by the lost-motion connection, and each said second lever subsequently pivoting the associated gate by engagement of the recess margin with the associated lock element toward an open position upon continued rotation,

(f) means for rotating a selected one of said second levers to open its associated gate whereby any coins in the container will be dropped to a predetermined one of said coin-receiving means, and

(g) the recess margin of each second lever engaging the associated lock element upon rotation of the second lever in the other direction so as to close the gate.

8. In an escrow cup for coin operated vending machines and the like:

(a) a housing including spaced, parallel rear and front walls,

(b) a pair of side gates disposed between and pivotally suspended on said walls, said gates being movable to a closed position to form a V-shaped structure that cooperates with said walls to provide a coin container, each said gate including a projecting rod spaced from its pivot axis,

(c) a coin receiving means disposed beneath each of said gates,

(d) a pair of pivotally mounted first levers each including a hook selectively engaging one of said gate rods and retaining its associated gate in a closed position,

(e) a pair of pivotally mounted second levers each being provided with an opening that receives one of said gate rods loosely to provide a relative lostmotion connection, each said second lever upon rotation engaging and camming one of said first levers to, disengage its associated gate rod from the first lever hook and to release the associated gate as permitted by the lost-motion connection, and each said second lever subsequently engagi 1g its assc ciated gate rod to pivot its associated gate lJWflrd an open position upon continued rotation,

(f) means vfor rotating a selected one of said second levers to op :n its associated gat: whereby any coins in the container will be dropped toa predetermined References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/83 Slawson 23257 8/41 Melick 232 57 1/55 Timms 232-57 2/57 Hoban 232-57 4/62 Jensen 23257 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN ESCROW CUP FOR COIN-OPERATED VENDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE: (A) A HOUSING PROVIDING A COIN CONTAINER, SAID HOUSING CONTAINING A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED GATE THAT CONSTITUTES A WALL OF SAID CONTAINER, THE GATE INCLUDING A LOCK ELEMENT, (B) A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED FIRST LEVER SELECTIVELY ENGAGING SAID LOCK ELEMENT AND RETAINING SAID GATE IN A CLOSED POSITION, (C) A PIVOTALLY MOUNTED SECOND LEVER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED AND ATTACHED TO SAID LOCK ELEMENT AND ENGAGING SAID FIRST LEVER, SAID SECOND LEVERL CAMMING SAID FIRST LEVER TO DISENGAGE THELOCK ELEMENT AND RELEASE SAID GATE AND SUBSEQUENTLY PIVOTING SAID GATE BY THE LOCK ELEMENT TO AN OPEN POSITION UPON ROTATION OF SAID SECOND LEVER IN ONE DIRECTION, (D) MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ROTATING SAID SECOND LEVER, AND (E) THE SECOND LEVER BY ITS CONNECTION AND ATTACHMENT TO THE LOCK ELEMENT PIVOTING THE GATE TO A CLOSE POSITION UPON ROTATION OF THE SECOND LEVER IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. 